Real Betis: a well-known Copa foe

Athletic Club will face Real Betis at the Benito Villamarín on Thursday night (21:00 CET) for their Copa del Rey quarter-final.

It will be the 21st time the two teams have played each other in the domestic cup competition. What’s more, on two occasions, the Basques and the Andalusians have even battled it out for the trophy.

Athletic won the 1930-31 final 3-1, while Betis lifted the trophy in 1976-77, winning on penalties after a 2-2 draw.

In the 2004-05 season, the two sides faced each other in the semi-finals. Athletic, under Ernesto Valverde, were on the brink of reaching a major final for the first time in 21 years. But after two goalless draws, the Lions were knocked out on penalties at San Mamés.

The last time the teams crossed paths was in the 2013-14 Copa del Rey round of 16. Athletic lost the first leg 1-0 at the Benito Villamarín, but Mikel Rico scored two goals at San Mamés to fire the Lions to victory and the quarter-finals.